Self-Help

   Image: A boy sits amid the ruins of a London bookshop following an air raid on October 8, 1940, reading a book titled “The History of London.” 

I once thought
I could solve any problem
if only I could find
the right
book.

Used

To step into the used book store

and breathe in that bewitching scent

I know my paycheck’s all but spent.

Perhaps I’m just an old book whore

but urgently they call to me

insatiably, I must have more.

Not safe and not expedient,

to step into the used book store.

This is written in the form called Octain, created by Luke Prater. It has a rhyme scheme of

A-b-b a-c/c-a b-A, with the 'A' meaning that line is repeated, and the 'c/c' being a line with internal rhyme. Also each line has 8 syllables, ideally iambic tetrameter. The photo is from Magpie Taleshttp://magpietales.blogspot.com/2011/05/mag-66.html (#66) where Tess Kincade gives a weekly writing prompt. Thank you both.